Letter to President Bush

In these difficult times, Americans have renewed their commitment to protecting the liberties that make this nation great: the right to freedom of speech, freedom of association and freedom of religion.

There could not be a more appropriate time for you, the leader of the free world, to lift the gag on free speech by suspending the undemocratic "Mexico City Policy." This global gag rule sets a lower standard for the rights to freedom of speech and freedom of association for our allies abroad than we enjoy in the United States. The gag rule denies U.S. family planning assistance to foreign non-governmental organizations that, with their own non-U.S. funds, either promote abortion law reform or provide the full range of legal reproductive health services, including abortion, counseling and referrals. Speech about abortion rights is censored, while anti-abortion groups that receive U.S. funds may speak freely.

Now more than ever, U.S. policy must strive to impress upon the world what we truly stand for. The Mexico City Policy gag on speech and the ability to participate in law reform is a direct affront to American values. We are exporting a policy that is contrary to our Constitution and one that could not be imposed in the United States.

The Senate included a provision in the Foreign Operations Appropriations Act that would eliminate the global gag rule. We commend the Senate for consistently standing against these undemocratic restrictions and urge Senators to remain steadfast in conference committee negotiations.

Mr. President, we urge you to join the Senate in demonstrating that the United States is committed to the universality of human rights and civil liberties by eliminating the global gag rule.

Sincerely,

Advocates for YouthAlan Guttmacher InstituteAmerican Association of University WomenAmerican Civil Liberties UnionAmerican College of Obstetricians and GynecologistsAmerican Medical Women's AssociationAssociation of Reproductive Health ProfessionalsBusiness and Professional Women/USACatholics for a Free ChoiceCenter for Health and Gender EquityCenter for Reproductive RightsCenter for Women Policy StudiesClearinghouse on Women's IssuesFeminist MajorityHadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of AmericaInternational Women’s Health CoalitionMarie Stopes InternationalNational Abortion FederationNational Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action LeagueNational Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's HealthNational Council of Jewish WomenNational Council of Women's OrganizationsNational Family Planning and Reproductive Health AssociationNational Organization of WomenNational Women's Political CaucusNetwork of East-West WomenOMB WatchPlanned Parenthood Federation of AmericaPlanned Parenthood of New York CityVoters For ChoiceWomen’s Campaign FundWomen's Commission for Refugee Women and ChildrenWomen’s EDGEWomen's Environment and Development OrganizationWomen's Rights Division of Human Rights WatchZero Population Growth